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Tsuga heterophylla - Abies amabilis - (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) / Vaccinium alaskaense Forest |
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Name: Tsuga heterophylla - Abies amabilis - (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) / Vaccinium alaskaense Forest Reference: Description: This widely distributed montane coniferous community, which when very old can develop complex vertical structure, is found from the windward and leeward Vancouver Island Ranges to the mainland western slopes of the Coast Mountains from the Fraser River valley northward into southeastern Alaska. It probably also is found in the northwestern Cascade Range and possibly the Olympic Mountains of Washington. The slope position is variable, from upper to lower. The moderately to imperfectly drained soils are developed on colluvial and morainal materials, as well as on organic veneers over these materials and over bedrock. <i>Tsuga heterophylla</i> and <i>Abies amabilis</i> dominate the canopy, with lesser amounts of <i>Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (= Callitropsis nootkatensis), Thuja plicata</i>, and <i>Tsuga mertensiana</i>. The well-developed shrub layer tends to be dominated by <i>Vaccinium alaskaense</i> and regenerating <i>Tsuga heterophylla</i> and <i>Abies amabilis</i>. Other shrub species present include <i>Vaccinium parvifolium, Vaccinium ovalifolium</i>, and <i>Menziesia ferruginea</i>. The moderately developed herb layer often features <i>Rubus pedatus, Blechnum spicant</i>, and <i>Cornus canadensis</i>. <i>Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Hylocomium splendens</i>, and <i>Rhytidiopsis robusta</i> dominate the moss layer. These sites are distinguished by their intermediate soil moisture and medium to poor nutrient status, as suggested by the absence or low coverage of fresh-to-moist and rich-site indicator species such as <i>Rubus spectabilis, Oplopanax horridus, Polystichum munitum, Tiarella trifoliata</i>, and <i>Athyrium filix-femina</i>. Heavy snow compacts both the moss layer and upper soil layers and is a distinctive feature of this association. Sites are close to the gradation into the higher subalpine Mountain Hemlock zone forest as signified by the transition from leading <i>Tsuga heterophylla</i> into leading <i>Tsuga mertensiana</i>, as well as the increasing prominence of <i>Elliottia pyroliflorus</i>. It is distinguished from the similar <i>Tsuga heterophylla - Abies amabilis / Vaccinium ovalifolium / Rubus pedatus</i> Forest (not in USNVC) by the prominence of <i>Chamaecyparis nootkatensis</i> or <i>Tsuga mertensiana</i> or >1% cover of <i>Coptis aspleniifolia</i>.  Accession Code: VB.CC.37326.CEGL002850 Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 17-Nov-2014 to: 01-May-2019
	status: accepted This Community's Level: association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Translated: Western Hemlock - Pacific Silver Fir - (Alaska-cedar) / Alaska Blueberry Forest   Scientific: Tsuga heterophylla - Abies amabilis - (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) / Vaccinium alaskaense Forest   Code: CEGL002850   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.788005 NatureServe Explorer